ultradur® – product brochure, english

Ultradur® (PBT)Product Brochure

Ultradur® (PBT )

Ultradur® is BASF’s trade name for its line of partially crys-

talline saturated polyesters. This line is based on polybutyl-

ene terephthalate and is employed in applications demand-

ing a high performance level such as load bearing parts in

different industrial sectors. Ultradur® is outstanding for its

high rigidity and strength, very good dimensional stability,

low water absorption and high resistance to many chemi-

cals. Moreover, Ultradur® exhibits exceptional resistance to

weathering and excellent heat aging behavior.

Ultradur® (PBT )

ULTRADUR® IN AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING 4 - 5

ULTRADUR® IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING AND ELECTRONICS 6 -7

ULTRADUR® IN INDUSTRIAL AND HOUSEHOLD APPLICATIONS 8 - 9

THE PROPERTIES OF ULTRADUR® Product range

Mechanical propertiesTribological properties

Thermal propertiesElectrical properties

Fire behaviorResistance to chemicals and behavior on exposure to weather

10 14 19 20 222324

10 - 25

THE PROCESSING OF ULTRADUR® General notes

Injection moldingExtrusion

Fabrication and finishing processes

262834 38

26 - 39

GENERAL INFORMATIONSafety notes

Delivery and storage(Integrated) management system

NomenclatureSubject index

40 40 41 4244

40 - 46

4

A feature that is particularly important for automotive elec-tronics is the low water absorption and thus the fact that the mechanical and electrical properties are largely inde-pendent of the moisture content or the climatic conditions of use. Particularly for components that have an impact on safety and have to work reliably for the entire lifetime of a car, Ultradur® is indispensable. The range of applications in automotive electrics includes plug-in connectors, sen-sors, drives and the full range of control units including the safety-relevant ABS/ESP systems, airbag control units, or electric steering systems.

Ultradur® in automotive engineering

ULTRADUR® IN AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING

Ultradur® shows its strengths wherever high-quality and above all heavy-duty parts are required – for example in the automotive industry. Ultradur® is rigid, impact resistant, dimensionally stable, heat and weather resistant as well as resistant to fuels and lubricants. It shows an excellent electrical and thermal long term behavior – all properties that have made Ultradur® an indispensable ma terial in many applications in modern automotive engineering.

Ultradur® is used in windscreen wiper arms, door handles, headlamp structures, mirror systems, connectors, sun-roof components, in housings for locking systems, in roof rack supports, hinge arms and in many other applications.

Mirror actuator housing

Windscreen wiper arm

Rain sensor

5ULTRADUR® IN AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING

Mirror arm

Headlamp housing

6

Ultradur® in electrical engineering and electronics

ULTRADUR® IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING AND ELECTRONICS

Wherever electricity flows, plastics need to have excellent electrical properties, good mechanical values and a high level of dimensional stability under heat. In daily operation, they ensure electrical insulation and thus protection if they are touched. Thanks to its special combination of proper-ties, Ultradur® is an ideal material for many applications in the field of electrical engineering and electronics. As well as showing outstanding dimensional stability and excellent long-term electrical and thermal performance, it can be modified in versatile ways, e. g. with regard to enhanced flowability, strong hydrolysis resistance, low warpage, excel-lent laser-welding and laser-markable properties, as well as very good flame-retardant characteristics.

Power semiconductor modules

Connectors

Ultradur® is used among other things for electrical instal-lations in railway cars, circuit breakers, plug-in connectors and electronic switching elements for increased voltages (e. g. railway cars, alternative drives, photovoltaic installa-tions).

7ULTRADUR® IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING AND ELECTRONICS

Motor circuit breaker

Connector

Safety switch housing

ABS/ESP steering sensor

8

Ultradur® in industrial and household applications

The high rigidity, strength and outstanding dimensional stability of Ultradur® remain comparatively unaffected by external factors such as humidity.

ULTRADUR® IN INDUSTRIAL AND HOUSEHOLD APPLICATIONS

The range of applications which benefit from these proper-ties of Ultradur® in both industry and everyday life is vast and comprises: Packaging, e. g. films or paper coatings; food contact grades for single-layered packaging to seal in the aroma, e. g. in coffee capsules or sauce cups

fibers for bristles, screen meshes, or nonwovens toys with correspondingly high requirements on the plastic’s safety masterbatches as additives for thermoplastics sanitary products and applications for irrigation technology metal replacement in window profiles for boosting energy efficiency Components of household appliances such as refrigera-tors, ovens and coffee machines

Mechanical, functional parts or components for medical applications, e.g. adjusting scales, protective covers, cou-plings and push buttons for drug release systems, such as insulin pens, inhalers and auto injectors

These products also benefit among other things from the excellent sterilization, high surface quality, compliance with food safety regulations, and the approval for the drinking water sector of the corresponding Ultradur® grades.

Sauce tubsCoffee capsules

Window profile reinforcement

9ULTRADUR® IN INDUSTRIAL AND HOUSEHOLD APPLICATIONS

Film

Toy

Compressor

Bristle filaments

Insulin pen

10

The properties of Ultradur®

The Ultradur® grades are polyalkylene terephthalate mold-ing compounds based on polybutylene terephthalate. The chemical structure is illustrated in the following structural formula:

Ultradur® is produced by poly con densation of terephthalic acid or dimethyl terephthalate with 1,4 -butanediol using special catalysts. Terephthalic acid, dimethyl terephthalate and 1,4 -butanediol are obtained from petrochemical feed-stocks, such as xylene and acetylene.

Product range

The most important applications of Ultradur® are automotive engineering, electrical engineering, electronics and telecom-munications as well as precision engineering and general mechanical engineering. For these applications, a variety of Ultradur® types is available. When selecting the most suit-able types for your specific purpose our technical support will be glad to help.

Unreinforced grades

The Ultradur® range includes a variety of PBT grades which differ in their flow properties, demolding and setting behavior. The unreinforced grades are used for parts with very good surface quality, with applications ranging from packaging film to filigree connectors in electrical engineering and func-tional parts such as gear wheels.

Reinforced grades

Ultradur® demonstrates the full potential of its positive properties in a wide range of glass-fiber reinforced grades. Ultradur® types with different glass-fiber contents are available on demand as standard, including types with a glass-fiber content of over 50 %. Processed to molded parts, these Ultradur® grades are key players in assemblies that withstand high mechanical stress even at elevated tem-peratures, such as in the engine compartment of cars.

In addition to the pure PBT/glass-fiber compounds, the range of reinforced grades also includes glass-fiber reinforced PBT blends which have been further optimized with regard to surface quality and dimensional stability. Well-known manu-facturers of electronic assemblies have confidence in the reinforced Ultradur® grades as a housing material because of its outstanding performance profile and high consistency of product quality.

Reinforced Ultradur® grades with enhanced

flow properties

With the innovative Ultradur® High Speed grades, it is possi-ble not only to fill intricate molds, but also to significantly reduce cycle times compared with standard materials. These particularly economic Ultradur® High Speed grades have dif-ferent glass-fiber contents and are also available as PBT/ASA blends, the S 4090 grades.

Reinforced Ultradur® grades with particularly

low warpage

Manufacturing large, dimensionally stable parts, e. g. ventila-tion grids in cars, is a major challenge for plastic processors. The warpage-reduced grades make processing easier. These materials have lower contents of anisotropic fillers and rein-forcing materials. At special settings, it is possible to achieve roughly equal processing rates in longitudinal and transverse direction – the best conditions for the production of visible low-warpage parts.

THE PROPERTIES OF ULTRADUR®

Product range

O O

C– –C–O–CH2–CH2–CH2–CH2–O

n

11

Ultradur® for applications in contact with food and

drinking water

With the suffixes FC (Food Contact) and Aqua®, Ultradur® grades are offered specifically for components that come into contact with food and drinking water. The Ultradur® FC grades make it possible to develop applications in contact with food and to meet the different food safety regulations, e. g. FDA, European Food Contact No. 2002 / 72 / EC and GMP (EC) No. 2023/2006.

Ultradur® FC Aqua® grades have the approvals in accordance with the KTW, DVGW and WRAS guidelines in cold water applications. The special requirements on plastics that come into contact with drinking water include particularly low migration values, a high level of taste neutrality and the con-firmation that long-term contact with the plastic will not cause accelerated algae growth. More detailed information about the Aqua® range can be found in the brochure “From the idea to production. The Aqua® plastics portfolio for the sani-tary and water industries”.

Ultradur® for medical applications

Ultradur® B 4520 PRO is suitable in particular for injection molding applications in the medical sector. It is noted for its low warpage and shrinkage behavior. This means that Ultradur® B 4520 PRO is able to meet the strict require-ments placed on medical components in terms of dimen-sional stability. Other advantages that are significant for use in medical equipment include the low water absorption and the excellent resistance to many chemicals that are used in the medical sector.

Among other things, gamma rays or ethylene oxide are used for sterilizing the components. More detailed information about Ultradur® PRO can be found in the brochure entitled “Engineering plastics for medical solutions – Ultraform® PRO and Ultradur® PRO”.


Product range

Reinforced Ultradur® grades with particularly good

hydrolysis resistance

Special additives make the robust Ultradur® even more resistant if it is exposed to water or moisture at elevated temperatures. It was possible to show in various test sys-tems that these specialty grades are resistant to hydrolytic attack for much longer than standard PBT. Further informa-tion on Ultradur® HR can be found in the brochure “Ultradur® HR – PBT for hot-damp environments”.

Reinforced Ultradur® grades with outstanding laser

transparency

In principle, laser welding of partially crystalline thermoplas-tics is more difficult than that of amorphous plastics as the laser beam is scattered on the spherulites. This problem, which is shared by all partially crystalline plastics, was par-ticularly pronounced with PBT: Ultradur® LUX now provides a partially crystalline PBT with optical properties that have never been reached before. In comparison with conventional PBT, Ultradur® LUX lets through much more laser light; the widening of the beam is much lower.

The improved laser transparency means that considerably higher welding speeds are now possible, and at the same time the process window is much wider. Thicker compo-nents for joining can also be welded than was previously the case. This gives access to applications that were previously reserved for other joining methods. More detailed informa-tion about Ultradur® LUX can be found in the brochure “Ultradur® LUX – PBT for laser welding”.

Flame-retardant grades

Many flame-retardant grades are available in the product range. Ultradur® for applications in the construction and electrical appliances sectors, which place special require-ments on PBT’s flammability. The standard fire-retardant grades are unreinforced and available with 10 to 30 percent glass-fiber reinforcement.

Air flow control

12 THE PROPERTIES OF ULTRADUR®

Product range

Unreinforced grades

B 1520 FC Very easy-flowing injection-molding grade for thin-walled packaging with food contact.

B 2550 /B 2550 FC Easy-flowing grade for coating paper and board with high heat resistance, for example for packagingof frozen goods and ready-prepared meals. Also suitable for injection-molding applications with demands on the flowability and for the manufacture of fibers in the spinning process.

B 4500 /B 4500 FCB 4520 / B 4520 FC Aqua®

Medium-viscosity grade for manufacturing thin-walled profiles and pipes. The grade is also suitable for the manu-facture of industrial functional parts in injection-molding.

B 6550 /B 6550 FCB 6550 L /B 6550 LN

High-viscosity grades for the extrusion of loose buffer tubes for optical fibers and boards, semi-finished products for machining, profiles and pipes.

B 4560 Medium viscosity injection-molding grade with good processability for technical components in the automotive sector, such as headlamp housings. Suitable for direct metallizing.

Reinforced grades

B 4300 G2 / G4 / G6 / G10

Injection-molding grades with 10 % to 50 % glass fibers, for industrial parts, rigid, tough and dimensionally stable, for example for thermostat parts, small-motor housings for vehicles, headlamp frames, cams, windshield wiper arms, plug-in connectors, housings, consoles, contact mounts and covers.

B 4300 C3 Injection-molding grade with 15 % carbon fiber content, for technical components, durably antistatic, electrically conductive, e. g. for components of measurement and control devices, components in explosion-proof areas, automotive sensors.

B 4040 G4 /G6 /G10 Injection-molding grades with 10 % to 50 % glass fibers for industrial parts with excellent surface quality, for ex-ample for door handles in vehicles, sunroof frames, oven door handles, toaster casings, exterior mirrors, rear screen wiper arms in vehicles and sunroof wind deflectors.

S 4090 G2 /G4 /G6 Low-warpage, easy flowing injection-molding grades with 10 % to 30 % glass fibers for industrial parts with high dimensional stability requirements, for example for plug-in connectors and housings.

S 4090 GX /G4X /G6X Low-warpage, easy-flowing injection-molding grades with very good processing properties, with 14 % to 30 % glass fibers, for industrial parts with high dimensional stability requirements, for example for internal applications for vehicles, plug-in connectors and housings.

Grades with excellent flowability

B 4520 High SpeedB 4300 G2 /G3 / G4 /G6 High Speed

Easy-flowing injection-molding grades with 10 % to 30 % glass fibers, for industrial parts, rigid, tough and dimen-sionally stable, for example for housings, consoles, plug-in connectors, contact carriers and covers.

B 4040 G6High Speed

Easy-flowing injection-molding grade with 30 % glass fibers for industrial parts with excellent surface quality, for example door handles in vehicles, sunroof frames, exterior mirrors and windshield wiper arms.

S 4090 G4 /G6High Speed

Low-warpage, easy-flowing injection-molding grades with 20 % or 30 % glass fibers for industrial parts with high dimensional stability requirements, for example for internal applications for vehicles, plug-in connectors and housings.

Reinforced grades with low warpage

B 4300 K4 /K6 Injection-molding grades with 20 % to 30 % glass beads for industrial parts with low warpage, for example precisi-on parts for optical instruments, chassis, housings (including gas meter housings).

B 4300 M2 /M5 Mineral-reinforced, impact-modified injection-molding grades for rigid parts with good surface quality and low warpage, for example central automotive door locks, housings and visible parts of domestic appliances.

B 4300 GM42 Mixed glass-fiber reinforced and mineral-reinforced injection-molding grade with good surface quality and rigidity and with low warpage for parts such as housings and printed circuit boards.

S 4090 GM11 /GM13 Injection-molding grades reinforced with 10 % to 20 % of glass fibers/minerals, for laminar parts with high dimensio-nal stability requirements and low warpage, for example lids, ventilation grilles and housing covers.

13THE PROPERTIES OF ULTRADUR®

Product range

Flame-retardant grades

B 4406 unverstärktB 4406 G2 /G4 /G6

Flame-retardant injection-molding grades, unreinforced or with 10 % to 30 % glass fibers, for parts requiring en-hanced flame-retardance, for example plug-in connectors and housings, coil formers and lighting components.

B 4406 G6High Speed

Easy-flowing injection-molding grade with 30 % glass-fiber content, with flame-retardant properties, for compo-nents that require enhanced flame-retardance, e.g. plug-in connectors and housings, coil formers and lighting components.

B 4441 G5 Halogen-free flame-retardant injection-molding grade with 25 % of glass fibers for parts requiring enhanced flame-retardance. Specially optimized for the filament requirements of IEC 60335 for increased tracking resistance, for example for plug-in connectors, switch parts and housings for domestic appliances.

B 4450 G5 Halogen-free flame-retardant injection-molding grade with 25 % glass fibers for parts requiring enhanced flamere-tardance as well as maximum tracking resistance, for example for plug-in connectors, switch parts or housings for power electronics.

B 4450 G5 HR Halogen-free flame-retardant injection-molding grade with 25 % glass fibers for parts requiring enhanced flame-retardance as well as maximum tracking resistance and additionally meeting the requirements in terms of hydroly-sis stability.

Reinforced grades with outstanding hydrolysis resistance

B 4330 G3 /G6 HR Impact-modified injection-molding grade with 15 % or 30 % glass fibers, for industrial parts with increased de-mands on the hydrolysis stability, increased resistance to alkaline solutions and toughness, for example for housings and plug-in connectors in the engine compartment.

B 4300 G6 HR LT Injection-molding grade with 30 % glass fibers, for industrial parts with increased demands on the hydrolysis sta-bility, for example for housings and plug-in connectors in the engine compartment. Laser-weldable grades with 20 % or 30 % glass fibers; specified transparency for radiation in the near infrared area (800-1100 nm), e. g. of Nd:YAG or diode lasers.

B 4330 G3 HRHigh Speed

Easy-flowing injection-molding grade with 15 % glass-fiber content, impact-modified, for technical components with increased hydrolysis-stability requirements, e.g. in housings and plug-in connectors in the engine compart-ment.

Reinforced grades with particularly high laser transparency for laser welding

LUX B 4300 G4 /G6 Highly laser-weldable grades with 20 % or 30 % glass fibers; particularly high specified transparency for radiation in the near infrared area (800-1100 nm), e. g. of Nd:YAG or diode lasers.

Grades with special properties

LS Laser-markable products; can be marked with a Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm).

LT Laser-transparent grades with specified laser transparency; for radiation in the near infrared area (800-1100 nm), e. g. of Nd:YAG or diode lasers.

FC /FC Aqua® Products suitable for use in drinking water and/or food contact. They meet the regulatory requirements for the corresponding areas of use.

PRO Products which meet the regulatory requirements in particular in the area of medical devices, such as insulin pens or inhalers.

We also offer further products with special properties or for special applications. For more information on products with a special finish, please contact the Ultra-Infopoint.

Table1: Ultradur® Product range

14 THE PROPERTIES OF ULTRADUR®

Mechanical properties


The Ultradur® product range includes grades with various mechanical properties such as rigidity, strength and impact-resistance.

Ultradur® is distinguished by a balanced combination of rigidity and strength with good impact-resistance, thermo-stability, sliding friction properties and excellent dimensional stability.

The strength and rigidity of glass-fiber reinforced Ultradur® grades are substantially higher than those of the unrein-forced Ultradur® grades. Figure 1 shows the dependence of the modulus of elasticity and the elongation on the glass-fiber content.

The shear modulus and damping values ( Fig. 2) measured in torsion pendulum tests in accordance with ISO 6721-2 as a function of temperature provide useful insight into the temperature-dependence of the properties of the reinforced Ultradur® grades.

The pronounced maximum in the logarithmic decrement at + 50 °C identifies the softening range of the amorphous fractions while the crystalline fractions soften only above + 220 °C and thus ensure dimensional stability and strength over a wide range of temperature.

The good strength characteristics of the Ultradur® grades permit high mechanical loads even at elevated temperatures ( Figs. 3 and 4).

Fig. 2: Shear modulus and logarithmic decrement of glass-fiber reinforced Ultradur® as a function of tem-perature ( in accordance with ISO 6721-2)

Temperature [°C]

She

ar m

odul

us [M

Pa]

Log

arith

mic

dec

rem

ent

10,000

100

1,000

-100 -50 0 50 100 150 200 250

10

1 0

0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

B 4300 G6 S 4090 G6 B 4300 G6 S 4090 G6

Fig. 1: Modulus of elasticity and elongation at break

Modulus of elasticity [MPa]

Elo

ngat

ion

at b

reak

[%]

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

2,500 4,400 7,000 9,800 16,500

B 4300 G10

B 4300 G6

B 4300 G4

B 4300 G2

B 4520> 50

15THE PROPERTIES OF ULTRADUR®


Fig. 3: Tensile strength of glass-fiber reinforced Ultradur® B as a function of temperature (in accordance with ISO 527, take-off speed 5 mm /min)

Temperature [°C]

-50

Tens

ile s

tren

gth

[MP

a]

150

100

50

200

250

0-25 50 75250 100 125 150

B 4300 G2 B 4300 G4 B 4300 G6

Fig. 4: Tensile strength of glass-fiber reinforced Ultradur® S as a function of temperature (in accordance with ISO 527, take-off speed 5 mm /min)

Temperature [°C]

-50

Tens

ile s

tren

gth

[MP

a]

150

100

50

200

250

0-25 50 75250 100 125 150

S 4090 G2 S 4090 G4 S 4090 G6 Air pressure sensor

16

The behavior under short, uniaxial tensile loads is demon-strated by stress-strain diagrams. Figure 5 shows the stress-strain diagram for unreinforced Ultradur® B 4520 and Figure 6 shows that for Ultradur® B 4300 G6 with 30 % glass fibers as a function of temperature.

Toughness, impact strength and low-temperature

impact resistance

Impact strength may be specified, for example from the stress-strain diagram, as the deformation energy at failure ( Figs. 5 and 6 ).

A further criterion for toughness is the impact resistance of unnotched test rods in accordance with ISO 179/1eU. According to Table 2 the impact resistance of unreinforced Ultradur® B 4520 is higher than that of glass-fiber reinforced Ultradur® grades.

Fig. 5: Stress-strain diagrams for unreinforced Ultradur® at different temperatures (in accordance with ISO 527, take-off speed 50 mm /min)

Elongation [%]

Tens

ile s

tres

s [M

Pa]

60

40

20

80

100

0 2 4 6 8 10

-40 °C

-20 °C

0 °C

23 °C

80 °C100 °C

160 °C140 °C120 °C

60 °C

50 °C

40 °C

30 °C

B 4520

Fig. 6: Stress-strain diagrams for glass-fiber reinforced Ultradur® B 4300 G6 at different temperatures ( in accordance with ISO 527, take-off speed 5 mm /min)

Elongation [%]

Str

ess

[MP

a]

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

20

Temperature [°C]

Mod

ulus

[MP

a]

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

2,000

0-50 0 50 100 150 200



0 1 2 3 4

-40 0 23 40 80 120 160

17

Table 2: Dependence of the impact strength (ISO 179 / 1eU) on the glass-fiber content

Behavior under long-term static loading

The loading of a material under a static load for relatively long periods is marked by a constant stress or strain. The tensile creep test in accordance with DIN 53444 and the stress relaxation test in accordance with DIN 53441 provide information about extension, mechanical strength and stress relaxation behavior under sustained loading.

The results are illustrated as creep modulus plots, creep curves and isochronous stress-strain curves ( Figs. 7 and 8). These graphs are just a selection from the extensive plastics database CAMPUS®.

Property Unit B 4520 B 4300 G2 B 4300 G4 B 4300 G6 B 4300 G10

Glass content Wt.- % 0 10 20 30 50

Impact strength + 23 °C kJ / m2 no break 38 58 72 65

Fig. 7: Creep modulus curves for Ultradur® B 4300 G6 at 23 °C

Duration [h]

Cre

ep m

odul

us [M

Pa]

8,000

7,000

6,000

5,000

4,000

3,000

9,000

10 100 1,000 10,000 10,000

18 MPa 26 MPa 34 MPa 42 MPa 50 MPa

58 MPa 66 MPa 74 MPa 82 MPa 90 MPa

Fig. 8: Isochronous stress-strain curves for Ultradur® B 4300 G6 under normal conditions acc. to DIN 50014-23 / 50-2 and at 90 °C, 120 °C and 160 °C acc. to DIN 53442

Tens

ile s

tres

s [M

Pa]

Elongation [%]

100

80

60

40

20

0 1 2 3

Tens

ile s

tres

s [M

Pa]

Elongation [%]

100

80

60

40

20

0 1 2 3

Tens

ile s

tres

s [M

Pa]

Elongation [%]

100

80

60

40

20

0 1 2 3

Tens

ile s

tres

s [M

Pa]

Elongation [%]

100

80

60

40

20

0 1 2 3

10 h 100 h 1,000 h 10,000 h 100,000 h

10 h 100 h 1,000 h 10,000 h 100,000 h

10 h 100 h 1,000 h 10,000 h 100,000 h

10 h 100 h 1,000 h 10,000 h 100,000 h

23 °C

120 °C

90 °C

160 °C



18

Behavior under cyclic loads, flexural fatigue strength

Engineering parts are frequently subjected to alternating or cyclic loads, which act periodically in the same manner on the structural part. The behavior of a material under such loads is determined in long-term flexural fatigue tests or in rotating bend ing fatigue tests (DIN 53442) up to very high load-cycle rates. The results are presented in Wöhler dia-grams obtained by plotting the applied stress against the load-cycle rate achieved in each case (Fig. 9 ). The flexural fatigue strength is defined as the stress level a sample can withstand for at least 10 million cycles.

It can be gathered from the illustration that in the case of Ultradur® B 4300 G6 the flexural fatigue strength under nor-mal conditions is 40 MPa.

When applying the test results in practice it has to be taken into account that at high load alternation frequencies the parts may heat up considerably due to internal friction. In such cases, just as at higher operating temperatures, lower flexural fatigue strength values have to be expected.



Fig. 9: Flexural fatigue strength of Ultradur® B 4300 G6 under normal conditions as defined by DIN 50014-23 / 50-2 in accordance with DIN 53442, injection-molded test specimen

Cycles

Str

ess

max

. [M

Pa]

80

70

60

50

40

90

100

305 2 2 2 25104 105 106 1075 5

S-N curve

19

Tribological properties

Ultradur® is suitable as a material for sliding elements due to its excellent sliding properties and very high resistance to wear.

Figures 10 and 11 show examples of friction values and wear rates for unreinforced and glass-fiber reinforced Ultradur® on a special tribological system having two different depths of roughness. Sliding properties depend strongly on the system so that tailor-made tests to the part in question might be necessary. The coefficient of sliding friction and the wear rate due to sliding friction depend on the contact pressure, the temperature of the sliding sur-faces and the sliding distance covered. The surface rough-ness and the hardness of the paired material is decisive. The sliding speed has no appreciable effect if heating and modification of the sliding surfaces are avoided.


Tribological properties

Fig. 10: Coefficient of sliding friction and wear rates of unlubri-cated Ultradur® at 0.15 µm depth of roughness; tribological system: pin-on-disk; base material: disk of 100 Cr 6 / 800 HV steel; opposing material: plastic; ambient temperature: 23 °C; contact pressure: 1 MPa; sliding speed: 0.5 m /s

Wear rate due to sliding friction WI / s [µm / km]

Coe

ffici

ent o

f slid

ing

fric

tion

[µ]

0.00

0.20

0.30

0.40

0.50

0.60

0.70

0.10

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

S 4090 G6 S 4090 G4 B 4300 G6 B 4520

Fig. 11: Coefficient of sliding friction and wear rates of unlubri-cated Ultradur® at 3 µm depth of roughness; tribological sys-tem: pin-on-disk; base material: disk of 100 Cr 6 / 800 HV steel; opposing material: plastic; ambient temperature: 23 °C; contact pressure: 1 MPa; sliding speed: 0.5 m / s

Wear rate due to sliding friction WI/s [µm/km]

Coe

ffici

ent o

f slid

ing

fric

tion

[µ]

0.00

0.20

0.30

0.40

0.50

0.60

0.70

0.10

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

S 4090 G6 S 4090 G4 B 4300 G6 B 4520Exterior mirror housing

20

Thermal properties

As a partially crystalline plastic, Ultradur® has a narrow melt-ing range between 220 °C and 225 °C. The high crystalline component makes it possible for stress-free Ultradur® mold-ings to be heated for short periods to just below the melting temperature without undergoing deformation or degrada-tion.

Ultradur® is distinguished by a low coefficient of linear expan-sion. The reinforced grades in particular exhibit high dimen-sional stability when temperature changes occur. In the case of the glass-fiber reinforced grades, however, the linear expan-sion is determined by the orientation of the fibers. Because of glass-fiber reinforcement, the dimensional stability on exposure to heat ( ISO 75 ) increases significantly by compar-ison with unreinforced grades.

Behavior on brief exposure to heat

Apart from the product-specific thermal properties the behavior of Ultradur® components on exposure to heat also depends on the duration and mode of application of heat and on the loading. The shape of the parts is also impor-tant. Accordingly, the dimensional stability of Ultradur® parts cannot be estimated simply on the basis of the temperature values from the various standardized tests.

The shear modulus and damping values measured as a function of temperature in torsion pendulum tests in accor-dance with ISO 6721-2 afford valuable insight into the tem-perature behavior. A comparison of shear modulus curves (Fig. 2) gives information about the different thermomechanical effects at low deformation stresses and speeds. Based on practical experience the thermal stability of well-manufac-tured parts is in accordance with the temperature values measured in the torsion pendulum tests in which the start of softening becomes apparent.

Heat aging resistance

Thermal aging is the continuous, irreversible change (degra-dation) of properties under the action of elevated tempera-tures. The determination of the aging characteristics of fin-ished parts under operational conditions is often difficult to carry out because of the long service life required.

The test methods developed for thermal aging using stan-dardized test specimens make use of the increasing reac-tion rate of chemical pro cesses at higher temperatures. This dependence of service life on temperature described math-ematically by the Arrhenius equation is the basis of the inter-national standards IEC 60216, ISO 2578 and the US stan-dard UL 746B.

The temperature index ( TI ) is defined as the temperature in °C at which the permitted limiting value (usually decline of the property to 50 % of the initial value) is reached after a defined time (usually 20,000 hours). The temperature index is available for many products and various properties (e. g. tensile strength). The temperature indices are given in the Ultradur® product range.

In Figure 12 the tensile strength of Ultradur® B 4300 G6 is plotted as a function of storage time and storage tempera-ture. From the graph a temperature-time limit in accordance with IEC 60216 of approx. 140 °C after 20,000 hours can be extrapolated on the basis of a 50 % decline in tensile strength (Fig. 13).


Thermal properties

Fig. 12: Thermal endurance graph for glass-fiber reinforced Ultradur® ( IEC 60216)

Temperature [°C]

Tim

e [h

]

100,000

10,000

1,000130 140 160 180

B 4300 G6

21

Ultradur® moldings become only slightly discolored on long exposure to thermal stress in the aforementioned tempera-ture-time limits. In the case of uncolored Ultradur® B 4520 for example, only a very slight change in color can be ob-served after exposure to a temperature of 110 °C for 150 days. Even after storage for 100 days at 140 °C discoloration due to oxidation is slight, i. e. the material is suitable for visi-ble parts exposed to high temperatures, e. g. in the domes-tic appliance sector.

Hydrolysis resistance

With polyesters, contact with water – even in the form of atmospheric moisture – results, especially at elevated tem-peratures, in hydrolytic splitting of the polymer chains and thus in a weakening of the material. Important material properties such as strength, elasticity and impact strength suffer, if the material is hydrolytically damaged. In applica-tions in which moisture can have an effect at higher tempera-tures over a relevant period of time, for example in automo-tive electronics, additives are generally added as hydrolysis stabilizers. These additives serve to counteract the chain splitting through hydrolysis, greatly slow down hydrolytic degradation and can thus prolong the life of a component many times over (Fig. 14).

The development of hydrolysis-stabilized Ultradur® grades provides processors with materials which combine the proven excellent properties of Ultradur® with a much higher level of resistance to the effects of moisture. This means that even applications in the highest stress classes can be achieved. BASF offers a series of HR-modified Ultradur® grades which are noted not only for having high hydrolysis resistance, but also offer processing benefits. In addition to B 4300 G6 HR LT, the range also comprises the impact-modified grades B 4330 G3 and G6 HR.

Time [h]

Fig. 13: Heat aging of Ultradur® B 4300 G6

Tens

ile s

tren

gth

[MP

a]

160

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000 8,000 9,000

120 °C 150 °C 180 °C


Thermal properties

Fig. 14: Comparison of PBT GF30 without HR stabilization to Ultradur® B 4330 G6 HR: aging at 85 °C / 85 % rel. humidity, tensile properties for 4 mm thick specimen ( ISO 527, 1A)

Aging time [d ]

Tens

ile s

tren

gth

[MP

a]

160

140

80

100

120

20

40

60

500 100 200150 250 300 350

Ultradur® B 4330 G6 HR reference without HR stabilization

22

Electrical properties

Ultradur® is of great importance in electrical engineering and electronics. It is used in insulating parts, such as plug boards, contact strips and plug connections for example, due to its balanced range of properties. These include good insulation properties (contact and surface resistance) in association with high dielectric strength and good tracking current resistance together with satisfactory behavior on exposure to heat, in aging, and the possibility of meeting the requirements for increased fire safety by incorporation of flame-retardant additives. Electrical test values are compiled in the Ultradur® product range.

Figure 15 shows the dielectric constant and the dissipation factor as a function of frequency with reference to Ultradur® S 4090 G4. The electrical properties are not affected by the moisture content of the air.

Headlight cover


Electrical properties

Fig. 15: Dielectric constant and dissipation factor for glass-fiber reinforced Ultradur® as a function of frequency

Frequency [Hz]

Die

lect

ric c

onst

ant

r

Dis

sipa

tion

fact

or ta

n δ

3.0

4.0

5.0

0

0.02

0.03

0.01

101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109

tan δ

r

S 4090 G4

23

Fire behavior

General notes

In the temperature range above 290 °C, flammable gases are formed. They continue to burn after they have been ignited. These processes are affected by many factors so that, as with all flammable solid materials, no definite flash point can be specified. The use of flame-retardant additives is intended to prevent fires from occurring in the first place (inflammation) or in the event of a fire minimize its spread (self-extinguishment). The decomposition products formed from charring and combustion are mainly carbon dioxide and water and, depending on the supply of oxygen, small amounts of carbon monoxide and tetrahydrofuran.

Tests

Electrical engineeringDifferent material tests are carried out to assess the fire behavior of electrical insulating materials. In Europe, the glow wire test according to IEC 60695-2-10 ff is frequently required. Another test carried out on rod-shaped samples is the classification according to “UL 94 – Standard, Tests for Flammability of Plastic Materials for Parts in Devices and Appliances” of Underwriters Laboratories Inc. / USA.

TransportationIn modern traffic and transport engineering, plastics make a substantial contribution to ensuring the high performance capacity of road vehicles and trains. Materials used inside motor vehicles are governed by the fire safety requirements according to DIN 75200 and FMVSS 302, which are met by all Ultradur® grades with a wall thickness of more than 1 mm (burning rate < 100 mm / min).

The corresponding values can be found in the Ultradur® product range. For rail vehicles, in addition to different national regulations, a European standard, EN 45545, is drawn up which also contains requirements for the other effects of fire such as the density and toxicity of smoke gas.

Construction industryBuilding materials for use in construction are tested accord-ing to DIN 4102 Part 1 “Fire behavior of building materials and components”. Panels made of unreinforced and glass-fiber reinforced Ultradur® products (thickness of 1 mm, stan-dard type of sample) are to be assigned) to the building materials class B 2 as normal-flammability building materials (designation in the Federal Republic of Germany).

The classifications and measured results for the Ultradur® grades regarding fire behavior are summarized in Table 3.

Further literature for electrical insulating materials

The wide variety of existing applications and sets of rules can be difficult to comprehend. More detailed information and key material figures can be found in the following BASF brochures:

Engineering Plastics for the E / E Industry – Standards and Ratings Engineering Plastics for the E / E Industry – Products, Applications, Typical Values Engineering Plastics for Automotive Electrics – Products, Applications, Typical Values

Table 3: Fire behavior

Ultradur UL 94Glow wire test

IEC 60695 Part 2-12FMVSS 302(d ≥ 1 mm)

B 4520 HB (0.75 mm) 850 (≤ 2 mm) reached

B 4300 G2 - G10 HB (0.75 mm) 750 (2 mm) reached

B 4300 K4 -K6 HB (1.5 mm) 850 (3 mm) reached

S 4090 G4 -G6 HB (0.7 mm) 750 (3 mm) reached

B 4406 G2 -G6 V-0 (0.4 mm) 960 (1 mm) reached

B 4441 G5 V-0 (0.4 mm) 960 (1 mm) reached

B 4450 G5 V-0 (0.4 mm) 960 (1 mm) reached


Fire behavior

24

Resistance to chemicals and behavior on exposure to weather

Resistance to chemicals

Ultradur® is highly resistant to many common solvents, such as alcohols, ethers, esters, higher aliphatic esters and aliphatic hydrocarbons, and to fats and oils, such as fuels, brake fluid and transformer oils.

At room temperature, Ultradur® is only soluble in very spe-cial solvents, such as highly fluorinated alcohols. At elevated temperatures, Ultradur® is also dissolved by mixtures of o-dichlorobenzene and phenol, or tetrachloroethane and phenol, as well as o-chlorophenol and dichloroacetic acid. At room temperature, Ultradur® is resistant to water and aqueous solutions of most salts. It shows limited resistance to diluted acids and is not resistant to aqueous alkalis.

Polyesters can be damaged by hydrolysis; brief contact with warm or hot water does not pose any problems (Fig. 16). For long-term use, it is advisable to use hydrolysis-resistant Ultradur® HR grades.

Further information about the effect of solvents and chemicals can be found in the brochure “Ultramid®, Ultradur®, Ultraform® – Resistance to chemicals” and also at www.plasticsportal.eu. Model investigations in the laboratory allow a relative com-parison between different materials and thus represent a basis for preselecting suitable materials for a specific application. However, they cannot generally serve as a substitute for a realistic test.

Fig. 16: Absorption of moisture by unreinforced Ultradur as a function of time ( plaque thickness 2.5 mm)

Storage time [h]

Moi

stur

e co

nten

t [W

t.-%

]

0

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.1

10 20 30 40 50 60

B 4520 un



Climate storage at 85 °C / 85 % rel. h.

25

Behavior on exposure to weather

As has been shown by 3-year exposure to weather in the open in Central Europe, moldings made from Ultradur® barely tend to discolor, and their surface scarcely changes. Mechanical properties too, such as rigidity, tensile strength and tear strength, are hardly affected. After a weathering test for 3,600 hours in the Xenotest 1,200 device, the values for tensile strength still amount to 90 % of the initial value. On the other hand, elongation at break is more adversely affected. Experience has shown that a weathering test for 3,600 hours in the Xenotest 1,200 device corresponds to five to six years of weathering in the open air.

Parts for outdoor use should be manufactured from black-colored material, as these are very resistant to damage to the surface by UV light in comparison to uncoated, rein-forced plastics. Fiber-reinforced grades such as Ultradur® B 4040 G4/G6/G10 which offer outstanding surface quality accompanied by high resistance to UV radiation are suitable for parts subject to particularly extreme exposure.



Pressure sensor

26

General notes

As a general rule Ultradur® can be processed by all methods known for thermoplastics. The main methods, however, are injection molding and extrusion. Complex moldings are eco-nomically manufactured in large numbers from Ultradur® by injection molding. The extrusion process is used to produce film, semi-finished products, pipes, profiled parts, sheet and mono filaments. Semi-finished products are for the most part ma chined further by means of cutting tools to form finished moldings.

The following text examines various topics relating to the injection molding and extrusion of Ultradur®. Further general and specific information can be found on the internet via www.plasticsportal.eu or at the Ultra-Infopoint, [email protected]. More detailed information on the injection molding of individual products is provided in the respective processing data sheets.

THE PROCESSING OF ULTRADUR® General notes

Moisture and drying

Thermoplastic polyesters such as polybutylene terephthalate ( PBT) are susceptible to hydrolysis. If the moisture content during fusion in the course of processing is too high, degra-dation will occur. This results in cleavage of the molecular chains and hence in a reduction in the mean molecular weight.

In practice this manifests itself in a loss in impact resistance and elasticity. The decline in strength usually turns out to be less marked. Degradation of the material can be demon-strated by determining the viscosity number according to ISO 1628-5 or the melt volume index according to ISO 1133. Particular care therefore has to be devoted to pretreatment of the granules and processing in order to guarantee high quality of the finished parts and low fluctuation in quality.

Ultradur® should generally have a moisture content of less than 0.04 % when being processed. In order to ensure reliable pro-duction, therefore, pre-drying should generally be the rule and the machine should be loaded via a closed conveyor system. Pre-drying is also recommended for the addition of batches, e. g. in the case of self-coloring.

In order to prevent the formation of condensed water, con-tainers stored in unheated rooms must only be opened when they have attained the temperature in the processing area. This can possibly take a very long time. Measurements have shown that the interior of a 25-kg bag originally at 5 °C had reached the temperature of 20 °C of the processing area only after 48 hours.

The processing of Ultradur®

Connector

27THE PROCESSING OF ULTRADUR® General notes

Of the various dryer systems possible, the dry air dryer has proved to be technically and economically superior. Drying times for these devices amount to 4 hours at 80 °C to 120 °C. In general the directions of the equipment manufacturer should be observed in order to achieve the desired drying effect. The use of vented screws is inadvisable.

Production stoppages and change of material

During brief production stoppages the screw should be advanced to the forwardmost position and when downtimes are relatively long the barrel temperature should be additionally lowered. Before restarting after stoppages thorough purging is required. When there is a change of material the screw and barrel must be cleaned in advance. HDPE of high molecular weight as well as glass-fiber reinforced HDPE and GFPP have proved to have good cleaning action in such cases.

Reprocessing

Reprocessing of reground parts and sprue is usually possi-ble. Since degradation to a greater or lesser degree can occur in each processing cycle, checks should first of all be made as to how extensive this is. Checks on the viscosity number in solution or the melt viscosity provide useful infor-mation. If the material was handled gently in the first pass then as a rule up to 25 % of the regranulated material can be mixed with the fresh granules without any decline in the characteristics of the material.

In the case of flame retardant products limits to the quantity of regrind permitted have to be observed (e. g. by means of UL specifications). When regrind is added care has to be taken that there is adequate predrying (see section on “Moisture and drying”).

Self-coloring

Further shades other than those in our product range can be made up by means of self-coloring using masterbatches. When choosing the masterbatch attention should be paid to a high level of compatibility with Ultradur® so that its range of properties is not affected. We recommend PBT-based color batches. In the case of flame-retardant products care must be taken that only masterbatches are used which do not change its rating (e. g. according to UL). The Ultra-Infopoint will be happy to provide addresses of suppliers of suitable masterbatches.

Pump pressure housing

28

Injection molding

Injection unit

Single-flighted, shallow-cut three-section screws having a L / D ratio of 20 - 23 are suitable for processing Ultradur®. For the same screw diameter shallow flighted screws ensure a shorter residence time of the melt in the cylinder and a more homogeneous temperature distribution in the melt ( Figs. 17 and 18).

When processing GF-reinforced PBT types hard-wearing steels should be used for the cylinder, screw and non-return valve. At higher holding pressures the non-return valve must also prevent backflow of the melt out of the front of the screw so that sink marks or voids in the part are reliably avoided. The need for a check on the adequacy of sealing or excess play is always indicated when the melt cushion in the filled mold reduces markedly in the holding phase. Due to the viscous melt Ultradur® can be processed both with an open nozzle as well as with a shut-off nozzle. The use of nozzle heater bands is recommended.

Mold design

For Ultradur® both conventional cold runners as well as hot runner systems can be used. When using hot runner systems and hot nozzles, systems heating from without are safer due to the more homogeneous melt and a secure purging routine. Diversions have to be designed in a manner favoring flow in order to avoid deposits. Here furthermore, good thermal isolation at the gate is important. In this way the temperatures of the heated and cooled regions can be more directly con-trolled and the total energy requirements for heating and cooling are reduced. The most suitable type of gate depends on the specific application and must therefore be selected for each case.

At mold temperatures above 60 °C the installation of thermal insulation panels between the machine platen and the mold base plate should be considered. As a result less heat energy is lost and the temperature distribution in the mold is more uniform.

THE PROCESSING OF ULTRADUR® Injection molding

Fig. 17: Screw geometry – terms and dimensions for three-section screws for injection-molding machines

Fig. 18: Screw flight depths for three-section screws in injection- molding machines

hE

hA

Screw diameter [mm]

Flig

ht d

epth

h [m

m]

2

0

20

18

16

14

12

10

4

6

8

8030 130 180

standard screw shallow-cut screws

hE = flight depth feed section hA = flight depth metering section

R D hA hE

LELKLA

L

S

D outer diameter of the screw L effective screw length 20-23 DLE length of the feed section 0.5 - 0.55 L LK length of the compression section 0.25 - 0.3 LLA length of the metering section 0.2 LhA flight depth in the metering sectionhE flight depth in the feed sectionS pitch 1.0 DR non-return valve

29

Temperature control in the mold should be so effective that even over long production periods the desired temperatures are attained in all contour-forming regions or selective tem-perature changes can be produced at particular points by means of independent temperature control circuits. The quality of an effective cooling system is shown in that temperature fluctuations during the cycle phase are as small as possible. Draft angels of at least 1° per side allow problem-free demolding.

Metering and back pressure

When metering in, the peripheral screw speed and the level of back pressure have to be limited with a view to gentle handling of the material. Gentle infeed is guaranteed for peripheral screw speeds of up to 15 m /min. Figure 19 shows the speeds to be set as a function of the screw diameter. The screw speed should be chosen so that the time avail-able in a cycle for plastification is largely used up. The back pressure, which should ensure improved homogenei-ty of the melt and is therefore desirable, should be limited to 100 bar due to the risk of excessive shear. Good feed behavior is best achieved by means of rising temperature control. This is illustrated in Figure 20.


Fig. 20: Examples of cylinder temperature control for Ultradur®

6 5 4 3 2 1 Hopper

Heater bands

Temperature control [ °C ]

260 260 260 260 260 260 60

steady

260 255 250 245 240 235 60

rising

Rotary speed [ U/min ]

10

20

30

40

50

60

0

Fig. 19: Peripheral screw speed as a function of rotary speed and screw diameter

Per

iphe

ral s

peed

[m/m

in]

50 200100 150 250 300

Screw diameter

Maximum recommended speed 15 m /min

60 mm

45 mm

30 mm

20 mm

15 mm

30

Processing temperature and residence time

The recommended range of melt temperatures for the vari-ous Ultradur® grades is 250 °C to 280 °C. In order to work out the optimum machine setting a start should be made at the temperature of 260 °C. The choice of melt temperature depends on the flow lengths and wall thickness and on the residence time of the melt in the cylinder. Unnecessarily high melt temperatures and excessively long residence times of the melt in the cylinder can bring about molecular degradation. Figure 21 shows an example illustrating how the viscosity number acts as a measure of the molecular weight as a func-tion of the melt temperature and residence time.

Based on experience material degradation of less than 10 ml / g to 12 ml / g based on the measured viscosity in solution of the granules and the molding is tolerable. In the event of values higher than this the processing parameters and pretreatment should be checked. Detailed information is available in the product-specific processing data sheet.

Mold surface temperature

Mold surface temperatures should lie in the range of 40 °C to 80 °C for unreinforced materials and 60 °C to 100 °C for reinforced materials, if needed also higher. These temper-atures can usefully be attained using water systems as tempering medium. In the case of components with high demands on surface quality, especially in the case of glass-fiber reinforced grades, care should be taken that the mold surface temperature is at least 80 °C or higher.

Since the mold temperature has an effect on shrinkage, warpage and surface quality it is of great importance for the dimensional accuracy of parts. The effect of mold surface temperature on shrinkage behavior is illustrated in Figures 24 to 28 with reference to the examples of Ultradur® B 4520 and B 4300 G6.

Flow behavior and injection speed

The speed at which the mold is injected has an impact on the quality of the molded parts. Rapid injection encourages even solidification and the quality of the surface especially in the case of parts made of glass-fiber reinforced Ultradur®. However, with molded parts that have very thick walls, it may be appropriate to reduce the injection speed in order to avoid a free jet.

The flow behavior of plastic melts, which is of great impor-tance for the injection of the mold, can be assessed in prac-tical terms through what is known as the spiral test using spiral molds on commercial injection molding machines. The flow path covered by the melt – the length of the spiral – is a measure for the flowability of the processed material. The spiral lengths for some selected Ultradur® grades are given in Figure 22.

Residence time in the plasticating unit [ min ]

130

100

90

80

70

60

120

110

Fig. 21: Reduction of viscosity number of Ultradur® test specimens as a function of the melt temperature and residence time in the plastication unit

Vis

cosi

ty n

umbe

r [c

m3 /

g ]

0 10 20 30 40

B 4520 240 °C 270 °C 290 °C 250 °C 280 °C 300 °C 260 °C


31

Shrinkage

ISO 294-4 defines the terms and methods for measuring the shrinkage in processing. According to this, shrinkage is defined as the difference between the dimensions of the mold and those of the molded part at room temperature. It results from the volume contraction of the molding com-pound in the injection mold as a result of cooling, a change in the aggregate condition and crystallization. It is deter-mined by the geometry (free or impeded shrinkage) and the wall thickness of the molded part. In addition, the gate posi-tion and size, the processing parameters and the storage time and temperature also play a crucial role. The interaction between these different factors makes it difficult to predict the shrinkage exactly in advance.

A useful resource for the designer are the shrinkage values determined on the board measuring 60 mm ∙ 60 mm, which is molded via a film gate, for it shows the minimum and maxi-mum shrinkage due to the high orientation of the direction of flow. The value measured on the test box (Fig. 23) can serve as a guideline for an average shrinkage that occurs in a real component as the flow fronts tend to run concentri-cally from the gate pin here.

Guidelines for the shrinkage of the Ultradur® grades are specified in the product range.


Fig. 23: Test box

A ≈ 107 mm B ≈ 47 mm C ≈ 40 mm D ≈ 60 mm E ≈ 120 mm

C

A

D

E

B

450

500

200

150

100

50

0

400

250

300

350

Fig. 22: Flow behavior of glass-fiber reinforced Ultradur® grades; spiral length as a function of melt temperature; wall thickness 1.5 mm

Spi

ral l

engt

h [m

m ]

B 4300 G2 B 4300 G4 B 4300 G6 S 4090 G4 S 4090 G6

Melt temperature 260 °C Melt temperature 280 °C

Reflector housing

32

In order to illustrate the effect of some of these parameters the shrinkage is presented by way of example as a function of the mold surface temperature for wall thicknesses of 1.5 and 3 mm for unreinforced Ultradur® B 4520 in Figure 24 and for glass-fiber reinforced Ultradur® B 4300 G6 in Figure 25. Additionally in this investigation the holding pressure was varied in stepwise manner from 500 through 1000 to 1500 bar. The test component was a test box as shown in Figure 23. The specified shrinkage values were measured along the longitudinal direction of the box.

Depending on the processing conditions, aftershrinkage of the com ponents can occur. Figure 26 for unreinforced Ultradur® B 4520 and Figure 27 for glass-fiber reinforced Ultradur® B 4300 G6 give an impression of how large aftershrinkage can be as a function of the mold surface temperature.

After storage for 60 days at room temperature only the mold-ed parts produced at low mold temperatures exhibited small dimensional variations. After tempering, i. e. hot storage for 24 hours at 120 °C, the same parts exhibited marked after-shrinkage, especially those produced at low mold temper-atures. As the mold surface temperature rises aftershrinkage steadily drops. This behavior should be taken into account when designing parts for use at elevated operational temperatures. The Ultradur® grades S 4090 G2-G6 represent

alternatives having lower shrinkage. The shrinkage and warpage behavior of Ultradur® S 4090 G4 are compared with those of Ultradur® B4300 G4 and B4040 G4 in Fig-ures 28 and 29.

Warpage

The warpage of an injection-molded part is caused mainly by differential shrinkage in the direction of flow and in the direction transverse to this. Warpage is often particularly noticeable in the case of glass-fiber reinforced materials. In addition, this increases as the mold surface temperature rises. The warpage is also dependent on the shape of the molded parts, the wall thickness distribution, the gate posi-tion and the processing conditions.

On the other hand shrinkage in the direction of flow and transverse to this is approximately the same in unreinforced, mineral-filled and glass-bead filled products. Injection-mold-ings which due to their design tend particularly to warp should therefore be manu factured as far as possible from these Ultradur® grades or from the lower-warpage glass-fiber reinforced Ultradur® S grades. In many cases warpage-free moldings can be produced by differential temperature control of the mold parts. Further information can be obtained via www.plasticsportal.eu.


Shr

inka

ge [%

]

Fig. 24: Shrinkage as a function of mold temperature, part thickness and holding pressure (500, 1,000 and 1,500 bar) for unreinforced Ultradur®

Mold surface temperature [°C]

1.0

1.5

2.0

0.5

0

1,000 bar

500 bar

500 bar1,500 bar

1,500 bar

1,000 bar

20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Melt temperature (MT) 260 °C Wall thickness ≥ 3.0 mm Wall thickness = 1.5 mm

B 4520

Fig. 25: Shrinkage as a function of mold temperature, part thickness and holding pressure (500, 1,000 and 1,500 bar) for glass-fiber reinforced Ultradur®

Shr

inka

ge [%

]


0.6

0.8

1.0

0.4

1,000 bar

500 bar

1,500 bar

20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Melt temperature (MT) 260 °C Wall thickness ≥ 3.0 mm Wall thickness = 1.5 mm

B 4300 G6

33


120110100 130

Fig. 26: Effect of mold temperature and post-molding conditions on the shrinkage of unreinforced Ultradur®*

Shr

inka

ge [%

]

2.0

1.0

1.5

0.520 807060 905030 40

B 4520

Wall thickness 2 mm

1

234

5



120110100

Fig. 27: Effect of mold temperature and post-molding con-ditions on the shrinkage of glass-fiber reinforced Ultradur®*

Shr

inka

ge [%

]

1.0

1.5

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

20 807060 905030 40

Wall thickness 1 mm

1/2

3

4

5

B 4300 G6

Fig. 28: Shrinkage behavior of glass-fiber reinforced Ultradur® (Test box with walls 1.5 mm thick; melt temperature = 260 °C; mold surface temperature = 80 °C)

B 4300 G4 B 4040 G4 S 4090 G4

parallel to melt flow perpendicular to melt flow

Shr

inka

ge a

fter

1h [%

]

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.25 1.00.42 1.25 0.38 1.0 0.25 0.67

Fig. 29: Warpage behavior of glass-fiber reinforced Ultradur® ( Test box with walls 1.5 mm thick; melt temperature = 260 °C; mold surface temperature = 80 °C)

B 4300 G4 B 4040 G4 S 4090 G4

War

page

[mm

]

0.5

0

1.0

1.5

0.3

0.8

1.0

* Mold: test box, dimension measured A: 107 mm, melt temperature: 265 °C, holding pressure: 660 bar 1st Shrinkage measured 1 hour after injection 2nd After shrinkage measured 24 hours after injection. 3rd After shrinkage measured 14 days after injection. 4th After shrinkage measured 60 days after injection. 5th After shrinkage measured after tempering ( for 24 hours at 120 °C).

34

Extrusion

Applications, screw geometry

The following Ultradur® grades listed in order of rising viscosity are available for extrusion: Ultradur® B 2550 / B 2550 FC Ultradur® B 4500 / B 4500 FC Ultradur® B 6550 / B 6550 FC / B 6550 L / B 6550 LN

Ultradur® B 2550 is suitable for the production of monofila-ments and bristles. Ultradur® B 4500 is suitable for the extrusion of flat films, Ultradur® B 6550 for the extrusion of thin-walled and thick-walled tubes, hollow and solid profiles and semi finished parts.

Ultradur® B 6550 L and B 6550 LN have been developed for producing buffer tubes used in fiber optic cables. Ultradur® B 6550 L is additionally modified with lubricant for a better feeding performance. Ultradur® B 6550 LN is recommended when tubes with a higher stiffness are required.

Extruded Ultradur® B 6550 LN profiles – circular, square and hollow rods together with sheet and flat bars – are principally used as semi-finished parts for machine-cutting to produce engineering articles for which production by injection-molding does not come into consideration due to the small numbers involved. Tubes made from Ultradur® B 6550 L and B 6550 LN are resistant to fuels, oils and greases and show favorable sliding friction and wear properties. The ability of Ultradur® tubes to withstand compressive loads is remarkably high not only at normal temperatures but also at higher temperatures. They can for example withstand burst pressures higher by at least a factor of 1.5 than polyamide tubes of comparable size.

THE PROCESSING OF ULTRADUR® Extrusion

Thin-walled pipes made from Ultradur® B 6550 L and B 6550 LN are therefore in many cases suitable for fuel and oil pipes, pneumatic and hydraulic control lines, pipes for central lubrication systems, Bowden cables and other cable systems.

The processing properties of these grades are similar to those of polyamide 6. In general, therefore, the product can be processed on machines suitable for polyamides. The same is true for the screw geometry. Experience to date has shown that all Ultradur® extrusion grades can be extruded using the same three-section screws which have also proved to be effective in the processing of polyamides.

For Ultradur® the compression section and the flight depth ratio are even more important than for polyamide. The length of the compression zone should, therefore, not exceed 4 - 5 D and the flight depth ratio should be approximately 3 :1.

Fibers

35THE PROCESSING OF ULTRADUR® Extrusion

Production of semi-finished products and

profile sections

Ultradur® B 6550 and B 6550 LN is formed into circular, square, square-section and hollow rods under pressure by the cooled-die extrusion method, i. e. with cooled or tem-perature-controlled mold pipes. Due to the necessarily lengthy residence time of the melt, the melt temperature has to be kept as low as possible.

In contrast with polyesters based on polyethylene tereph-thalate the temperature of the cooled die in the case of Ultradur® need not be elevated, i. e. temperature control can be effected with water at room tem perature. If the melt temperature has to be reduced due to increasing layer thick-ness it is, however, more favorable in respect of surface quality and state of stress in the parts to operate with water of higher tem perature (60 °C to 80 °C; see the processing example for the produc tion of round-section rods in Table 4). As with other partially crystalline thermoplastics, suitably high pressures are also needed in the case of Ultradur® for compensating for the volume shrinkage occurring on solidifi-cation of the melt.

Production of sheet

Ultradur® B 6550 LN sheet and slab, are produced on com-mercial, horizontally arranged installations having a sheet die, three-roll polishing stack and a following take-off unit. The sheet die should have lips which extend up close to the nip. The temperature control of the rolls depends on the sheet thickness in question and ranges from 60 to 170 °C (for processing example see Table 5 ). The throughput and off-take rate are matched to one another in such a way that a small, uniform bead is formed over the width of the roll ahead of the nip. The uniformity of this bead is of great importance for the tolerances and surface quality of the sheet.

Rod diameter ø 60 mm

Extruder ø 45 mm, L / D = 20

Screw – Section lengths– Flight depths

L E = 9 D, L K = 3 D, L P = 8 D h1 / h2 = 6.65 / 2.25

Temperature settings– Adapter– Die (heated part)– Die (cooled part)

235 / 245 / 250 °C240 °C250 °C20 °C

Screw speed 16 U / min

Melt pressure approx. 30 bar

Take-off speed 27 mm / min

Output 5.9 kg / h

Table 4: Rod extrusion example for Ultradur® B 6550 LN

Sheet dimensions 780 mm ∙ 2 mm


Screw– 3-section lengths– Flight depths

LE = 11,5 D, LK = 4.5 D, LP = 14 Dh1 / h2 = 14.0 / 4.3

Die 800 mm

Temperature settings– Hopper– Barrel– Adapter– Die

40 °C215 / 220 / 235 / 260 / 230 / 225 / 220 / 220 °C

230 °Cthroughout 230 °C

Three-roll-stack 300 mm roll diameter

Temperature topcenterbottom

50 °C115 °C170 °C

Screw speed 34 U /min

Melt temperature 256 °C

Take-off speed 0.76 m / min

Output 100.8 kg / h

Table 5: Sheet extrusion example for Ultradur® B 6550 LN

36

Production of tubes

Tubes made from Ultradur® B 6550 L and B 6550 LN with diameters up to approx. 8 mm and a wall thickness of 1 mm are produced by the vacuum water bath calibration method. Both sizing tubes and sizing plates are suitable for calibration. In both cases the internal diameter is chosen to be approxi-mately 2.5 % greater than the desired outer diameter of the tube to be produced. Based on experience this difference corresponds to the shrinkage in processing. To achieve the highest possible haul-off speeds with Ultradur® B 6550 L and B 6550 LN, the ratio of the pipe die diameter to the internal diameter of the sizing sleeve must range from about 2 : 1 to 2.5 : 1. The die gap of the pipe extrusion head should be 3 to 4 times the size of the desired wall thickness of the tube. A processing example for the production of tube is described in Table 6.

Production of film

Flat film made from Ultradur® B 4500 is manufactured by the usual method using sheet dies and chill rolls. With appropriate cooling the films have very good transparency and at the same time they are rigid and have good surface slip. A processing example is shown in Table 7. Ultradur® B 4500 film of 12 - 100 µm gauge can be produced under appropriate production conditions with high transparency, good surface slip and high rigidity. The properties of such films are given in Table 8. Adhesive-tape resistant vapor deposition of aluminum is readily possible on these films. The barrier properties are improved still further by the vapor deposition. Ultradur® B 4500 monofilm or multilayer ( with PE ) can be sterilized on their own and in composites with-out risk of damage using superheated steam at 120 °C to 140 °C, ethylene oxide or ionizing radiation (2.5 · 104 J / kg). They are therefore also suitable as a packaging material for sterilized goods. The films made from Ultradur® B 4500 can be oriented uniaxially or biaxially.

Ultradur® B 4500 monofilm can be welded by means of ultrasonics. Joining is also possible using parting line weld-ing based on the thermal impulse principle. In this case, however, postcrystallization produces a white zone in the area of the welded joint.

Table 7: Film extrusion example for Ultradur® B 4500

Dimensions Gauge approx. 30 µm, width 650 mm

Screw– Section lengths– Flight depths

D = 63.5 mm, L / D = 24LE = 7 D, LK = 5 D, L P = 12 D

h1 / h2 = 8.5 / 2.5

Screen pack 400, 900, 2500, 3600 mesh count /cm2

Die width 800 mm, die gap 0.5 mm

Heater band temperatures

230 /245 /255 / 265 °C, die 225 °C

Melt temperature 280 °C

Melt pressure 75 bar

Chill rolls – Temperature– Diameter

approx. 55 °C450 mm


Take-off speed 26 m /min

Output 44 kg / h

Table 6: Processing example for the production of tubes from Ultradur® B 6550 L und Ultradur® B 6550 LN

Tube dimensions ø 6 mm ∙ 1 mm


Screw– Section length– Flight depths

LE = 9 D, LK = 3 D, L P = 8 Dh1 / h2 = 6.65 / 2.25

Temperature settings – Extruder– Adapter– Die

250 / 240 / 230 °C225 °C215 °C

Extrusion mold – Die diameter– Mandrel diameter– Gap

14 mm 6.8 mm3.6 mm

Waterbath-vacuum calibration unit– Sizing plate diameter– Water temperature

6.15 mm19 °C


Take-off speed 20 m / min

Output 24 kg / h


37

Production of monofilaments and bristles

Monofilaments made from Ultradur® B 2550 for the fabric sector are produced on commercial extruders. The usual monofilament diameters lie in the range of 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm. To achieve good uniformity of diameter water spinning bath temperatures of 60 °C to 80 °C are required when cooling. In comparison with polyesters made from polyethylene terephthalate Ultradur® exhibits better resistance to hydro-lysis.

Bristles for e. g. toothbrushes can be extruded from Ultradur® B 2550. Finishing treatments in the autoclave or in hot water baths for improving the ability to return to the upright posi-tion are not absolutely necessary. Toothbrush bristles made from Ultradur® are distinguished primarily by low water absorp-tion, high resistance to abrasion and excellent powers of return to the upright position. Examples of the production of monofilaments and bristles from Ultradur® are presented in Table 9.

Diameter Monofilaments 0.70 mm

Bristles 0.20 mm

Extruder ø 45 mm L / D = 25

Screw three-section screw, 6 D / 7 D / 9 D + 3 D

Die– Die head diameter– Die head length

2.4 mm4.8 mm

0.65 mm0.90 mm

Temperature control– Section 1– Section 2– Section 3– Section 4– Head– Pump– Die– Melt

265 °C275 °C270 °C265 °C270 °C270 °C270 °C270 °C

260 °C265 °C260 °C255 °C260 °C260 °C260 °C260 °C

Water bath temperature Die spacing Cooling path length

70 °C160 mm900 mm

45 °C40 mm

780 mm

Take-off rate Stretching temperature (hot air), 1st heater Stretching unit 1Stretching temperature (hot air), 2nd heater Stretching unit 2 Fixing temperature, 3rd heater, 20 m/min Fixing unit

20 m /min

155 °C80 m /min

235 °C110 m /min

230 °C 101.2 m /min

25 m /min

160 °C112.5 m /min

– –

200 °C101.3 m /min

Stretching ratio 1 Stretching ratio 2 Overall stretching ratio Mechanical shrinkage

1 : 4.0 1 : 1.38 1 : 5.5 8 %

1 : 4.5 –

1 : 4.5 10 %

Table 8: Properties of film made from Ultradur® B 4500 (film thickness approx. 25 µm, measured in standard atmosphere, ISO 291, after saturation)

Unit Value Test method


Yield stress S (para. & perp.)

MPa 30 - 35 ISO 527

Tear strength S (para. & perp.)

MPa 75 - 80 ISO 527

Strain at break S (para. & perp.)

% 450 - 500 ISO 527

Gas transmission – Water vapor transmission rate – Nitrogen gas transmission rate – Oxygen permeability – Carbon dioxide permeability

g /(m2 · d)

ml /(m2 · d)

ml /(m2 · d · bar)

ml /(m2 · d · bar)

10

12

60

550

ASTM F 1249

ASTM D 3985-81

Optical properties

Haze % 1 ASTM D 1003

Table 9: Processing examples for the production of monofilaments and bristles from Ultradur®


Snowboard

38

Fabrication and finishing processes

Machining

Semi-finished parts and moldings made from Ultradur® can be readily machined with cutting tools. This includes drilling, turning on a lathe, tapping, sawing, milling, filing and grind-ing. Special tools are not necessary. Machining is possible using standard tools suitable for machining steel on all stan-dard machine tools.

As a general rule cutting speeds should be high and feed rate low with rapid removal of shavings and chips. The cut-ting tools must always be sharp. Since Ultradur® has a high softening point cooling is generally not required. However, the working conditions must be chosen in such a way that the temperatures do not exceed 200 °C.

Joining methods

Parts made from Ultradur® can be joined at low cost by a variety of methods. The mechanical properties of Ultradur®, especially its toughness, allow the use of self-tapping screws. Ultradur® parts can be connected without difficulty to one another or to parts made from other materials by means of rivets and bolts. Ultradur®’s outstanding elasticity and strength, even at high temperatures, enables economic manufacture of high-performance snap- and press-fitting connectors.

In general, parts made of Ultradur® are suitable for adhe-sive bonding to parts made of Ultradur® or other materials. Adhesive properties are a function of the entire system and therefore the joining partners and the adhesive have to be matched to gain an optimum result.

Attention has to be paid to the data sheets and processing guidelines of the adhesive suppliers, especially to the ones regarding pretreatment of the surfaces. Usually, an adequate drying, roughening, cleaning, degreasing and /or activating of the surfaces is recommended. Depending on the require-ments, it is recommended to implement quality assurance measures like quality controls of the adhesive bonding according to the established test standards.

Known methods for welding Ultradur® include heating-element and ultrasonic welding as well as spin and vibration welding. As an especially gentle joining technique laser weld-ing can be used, e. g. when sensitive electrical assemblies must not be submitted to the mechanical and thermal stresses of the other joining methods. Only high-frequency welding is not feasible for this plastic on account of the low dielectric loss factor. Due to its range of variation the ultra-sonic joining technique in particular affords the possibility of integrating the bonding of mass-produced injection-molded parts efficiently and synchronously into fully automated pro-duction flows. Design of the mating surfaces in line with the welding technique together with optimum processing param-eters are the prerequisites for obtaining high-quality welded joints. It is therefore important to consider at the design stage how parts are to be welded and then to design the mating surfaces accordingly.

THE PROCESSING OF ULTRADUR® Fabrication and finishing processes

Air flow sensor

39

Further details can be found in the corresponding guidelines of the DVS ( Deutscher Verband für Schweißtechnik = German association for welding technology ). Ultrasound also can be used to embed metal inserts into preformed holes.

Door handle module

Steering angle sensor

THE PROCESSING OF ULTRADUR® Fabrication and finishing processes

Laser marking

Very good results are also obtained with laser-printing on Ultradur® moldings. There is an abundance of experience in this area which the Ultraplaste Infopoint can inform custom-ers about. Special tints for high-contrast laser-lettering are available. Our LS types are especially suited for that method.

40

Safety notes

Safety precautions during processing

If processing takes place under the recommended conditions (according to the product-specific processing data sheets), melts made of Ultradur® are thermally stable and do not pose any hazards due to molecular degradation or the evolution of gases and vapors. Like all thermoplastic polymers, how-ever, Ultradur® decomposes on exposure to excessive ther-mal stresses, e. g. when it is overheated or as a result of cleaning by burning off. In such cases gaseous decomposi-tion products are formed. Further information can be found in the product-specific safety data sheets.

When Ultradur® is properly processed and there is adequate suction at the die, no risks to health are to be expected. The workplace should be adequately ventilated when Ultradur® is being processed.

Incorrect processing includes e. g. high thermal stresses and long residence times in the processing machine. In these cases there is the risk of elimination of pungent-smelling vapors and gases which can be a hazard to health. Such a failure additionally becomes apparent due to brownish burn marks on the moldings.

This is remedied by ejection of the machine contents into the open air and reducing the cylinder temperature at the same time. Rapid cooling of the damaged material, e. g. in a water bath, reduces nuisances caused by odors. In general measures should be taken to ensure ventilation and venting of the work area, preferably by means of an extraction hood over the cylinder unit. Halogen-containing flame-retardant Ultradur® grades can give rise to corrosive and harmful degradation products due to overheating or long residence times of the melt in the cylinder.

GENERAL INFORMATIONSafety notes

When relatively long downtimes occur it is therefore nec-essary to flush the cylinder empty or to purge it with an Ultradur® grade which is not flame-retardant and lower the temperature. In general we recommend careful extraction by suction in the area of the nozzle. In the event of fires involving flame-retardant grades containing halogen, toxic compounds can be produced which should not be inhaled. Further information can be found in the safety data sheets.

Toxicology - procedures

Provided Ultradur® is processed correctly and the work areas are well-ventilated, there are no known adverse effects for people working with it.

Food regulations

Some standard-grades of the Ultradur® product line are in conformity with the current regulations for food contact in Europe and USA with respect to their composition and manufacturing conditions. The conformity of these products is furthermore guaranteed by the production in compliance with the GMP (good manufacturing practice) Food Contact standard. BASF will be glad to provide the relevant confir-mations on request ([email protected]).

Delivery and storage

Ultradur® is supplied as cylindrical or lenticular granules. The products are normally dried ready for processing and sup-plied in moisture-tight packaging.

Ultradur® is not classed as hazardous within the meaning of CLP Regulation (EC) no. 1272/2008 and is therefore not con-sidered a dangerous good for transportation. Further informa-tion can be found in the product safety data sheets.

General Information

41GENERAL INFORMATIONUltradur® and the environment

Ultradur® is classed as not hazardous to water. Standard packaging is 25 kg bags and 1,000 kg octabins; it can also be supplied in other types of packaging or in silo trucks by agreement. All containers are tightly sealed and should not be opened until immediately prior to use.

Storage and transport

Ultradur® can be stored for unlimited periods, even after being stored for long periods in dry, ventilated rooms. The moisture content of Ultradur® during processing should gen-erally amount to </= 0.04 %. In order to guarantee safe pro-duction, pre-drying should generally be the rule and the machine should be loaded using a closed conveyor system. Pre-drying is also recommended for the addition of batches, e. g. in the case of self-coloring.

In order to prevent the formation of condensation, contain-ers stored in unheated rooms must only be opened once they have attained the temperature in the processing area.Further information regarding storage can be found in the product-specific safety data sheets.

Color

Ultradur® is supplied in both colored and uncolored form. Uncolored Ultradur® has a white-opaque natural color. A number of products are available in shades of black. Indi-vidual grades can be supplied in a variety of shades upon request.

Disposal

All Ultradur® grades can be incinerated in accordance with official regulations. The calorific value of unreinforced grades is 29,000 to 32,000 kJ/kg (Hu according to DIN 51900).

Flame-retardant grades of Ultradur® containing halogen must be disposed of as hazardous waste in line with the national waste disposal requirements and local regulations.

Recovery

Like other production wastes, sorted Ultradur® waste materi-als, e. g. ground up injection-molded parts and the like, can be fed back to a certain extent into processing depending on the grade and the demands placed on it. In order to pro-duce defect-free injection-molded parts containing regen-erated material the ground material must be clean and dry (drying is usually necessary ). It is also essential that no ther-

mal degradation has occurred in the preceding processing. The maximum permissible amount of regrind that can be added should be determined in trials. It depends on the grade of Ultradur®, the type of injection-molded part and on the requirements. The properties of the parts, e. g. impact and mechanical strength, and also processing behavior, such as flow properties, shrinkage and surface finish, can be markedly affected in some grades by even small amounts of reground material.

(Integrated) management system

QHSE management

Quality, environment and energy management are key ele-ments of BASF’s corporate policy. Customer satisfaction is a significant target. The ongoing improvement of our products and services in terms of quality, environment, safety and health is our primary goal.

The BASF business unit Performance Materials Europe uses an integrated management system that covers issues such as quality, environment (including energy), Responsible Care®, safety and health.

The business unit is recognized by an accredited certification company for its:

Quality Management System according to ISO 9001 and ISO TS 16949 Environment Management System according to ISO 14001 Energy Management System according to ISO 50001

42 GENERAL INFORMATIONNomenclature

Subnames

Subnames are optionally used in order to particularly emphasize a product feature that is characteristic of part of a range.

Example of subnames:LUX Particularly high transparency to the radiation from

Nd:YAG lasers and lasers of a similar wavelength, e. g. diode lasers

Technical ID

The technical ID is made up of a series of letters and num-bers which give hints about the polymer type, the melt viscosity and the finish with reinforcing agents, fillers or modifiers. The following classification scheme is found with most products:

Nomenclature

Structure

The name of Ultradur® commercial products generally follows the scheme below:

Letters for identifying polymer types

B Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT ) or polybutylene terephthalate + polyethylene terephthalate (PET )

S Polybutylene terephthalate + acrylonitrile styrene acrylate polymer (ASA)

Numbers for identifying viscosity classes

1 Very low viscosity 2 Low viscosity4 Medium viscosity6 High viscosity

Letters for identifying reinforcing agents,

fillers, and modifiers

G Glass fibersC Carbon fibersK Glass beadsM MineralsZ Impact modifiers GM Glass fibers in combination with minerals

Key numbers for describing the content of

reinforcing agents and fillers

2 approx. 10 % by mass3 approx. 15 % by mass4 approx. 20 % by mass6 approx. 30 % by mass10 approx. 50 % by mass12 approx. 60 % by mass

In the case of combinations of glass fibers with minerals, the respective contents are indicated by two numbers, e. g.GM13 approx. 5 % by mass of glass fibers and

approx. 15 % by mass of minerals

Polymer type

Viscosity class

Type of reinforcing agent / filler or modifier

Content of reinforcing agent / filler or modifier

B 4 3 0 0 G 6

Ultradur® Subname Technical ID Suffixes Color

43

Moving platen

GENERAL INFORMATIONSuffixes

Suffixes

Suffixes are optionally used in order to indicate specific processing or application-related properties. They are frequently acronyms whose letters are derived from the English term.

Examples of suffixes:Aqua® Suitable for drinking water applicationsFC Food Contact; meets specific

regulatory requirements for applications in contact with food

High Speed High flowability of the meltHR Hydrolysis Resistant, increased

hydrolysis resistanceLS Laser Sensitive, can be marked with

Nd:YAG laserLT Laser Transparent, can be penetrated well

with Nd:YAG lasers and lasers of a similar wavelength

PRO Profile Covered Raw Materials Only; ful-fill specific regulatory requirements and demands for medical device applications

Color

The color is generally made up of a color name and a color number.

Examples of colors:UncoloredBlack 00110Black 05110

44 GENERAL INFORMATIONSubject index

Subject index

ABS/ESP steering sensor 7Absorption of moisture 24Aftershrinkage 32Air flow control 11Air flow sensor 38Air pressure sensor 15Applications in contact with food and drinking water 11Atmospheric moisture 21Automotive engineering 3 f.

Back pressure 29Batches 26, 27, 41 Behavior – on exposure to weather 3, 24, 25– under cyclic loads, flexural fatigue strength 18 – on brief exposure to heat 20– under long-term static loading 17Bristle 9, 34, 37Bristle filaments 9

Catalysts 10Change of material 27Chemicals 2, 3, 11, 24, 25, 48Chill rolls 36Coffee capsules 8Cold water applications 11Compressor 9Connector 4, 6, 10, 12, 13, 26, 38Construction industry 23Cooling path length 37Creep modulus 17

Delivery 3, 40Die 35 ff., 40Die head diameter 37Die head length 37Die spacing 37Dielectric constant and dissipation factor 22Door handle module 39Drilling 38Drinking water 8, 11, 13, 43Drying 26, 27, 41

Electrical engineering and electronics 3, 6 f., 22Electrical insulating materials 23Electrical properties 3, 4, 6, 22Elongation 14, 16, 17, 25Elongation at break 14, 25Energy management 41Exterior mirror housing 19 Extrusion 3, 26, 34 ff.Extrusion method 35

Fabrication and finishing processes 3, 38 f. Fibers 8, 12, 13, 16, 20, 34, 42Fillers 10, 42Film 8, 9, 10, 26, 31, 34, 36, 37Film extrusion example 36Fire behavior 3, 23Fixing temperature 37Flame-retardant grades 11, 13, 40Flexural fatigue strength 18Flight depth 28, 34, 35, 36Flow behavior and injection speed 30Flow properties 10, 41Food contact 8, 11, 12, 13, 40, 43Food safety regulations 8, 11

Glass-fiber contents 10, 14, 17Glass-fiber reinforced grades 10, 20, 30Glow wire test 23

Headlamp housing 5, 12Headlight cover 22Heat aging resistance 20 f.Household applications 3, 8 f.Hydrolysis resistance 6, 11, 13, 21, 43

Impact resistance 16, 26Impact strength 16, 17, 21Injection molding 3, 11, 26, 28 ff.Injection speed 30Insulating materials 23Insulin pen 8, 9, 13 Integrated management system (quality, environmental and energy management) 41Isochronous stress-strain curves 17

45GENERAL INFORMATIONSubject index

Joining methods 11, 38

Laser marking 39Laser transparency 11, 13Long-term flexural fatigue tests 18Low-temperature impact resistance 16

Machining 12, 38Masterbatches 8, 27Mechanical properties 3, 14 ff.,25, 37, 38Medical applications 8, 11Melt pressure 35, 36Melt temperature 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36Metering 28, 29Metering and back pressure 29Mirror actuator housing 4Mirror arm 5Modulus of elasticity 14 Moisture 4, 11, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, 40, 41Moisture content 4, 22, 24, 26, 41Mold design 28 f.Mold surface temperature 30, 32, 33Monofilaments 26, 34, 37Motor circuit breaker 7Moving platen 43

Nomenclature 3, 42 f.Normal conditions 17, 18

Operating temperature 18Optical properties 11, 37

Pipe extrusion head 36Plasticating unit 30Plug-in connector 4, 6, 12, 13Power semiconductor modules 6Pressure sensor 25Processing 10, 12, 21, 26 ff., 43, 48Processing temperature and residence time 30Product range 3, 10 ff., 20, 22, 23, 27, 31, 48Production of– film 36 f.– monofilaments and bristles 34, 37– semi-finished products and profile sections 35– sheet 35– tubes 36

Production stoppages 27Production wastes 41Profile 8, 10, 12, 26, 34, 35Properties 3, 4, 6, 10 ff., 27, 34, 36, 37, 38, 41, 43, 48Pump 27, 37Pump pressure housing 27

Quality management 41

Rain sensor 4Recovery 41Reduction of viscosity number 30Reflector housing 31Regulations 8, 11, 23, 40, 41Reinforced grades 10, 12, 13, 20, 25, 30Reinforcing agents 42Reprocessing 27Residence time 28, 30, 35, 40Resistance to chemicals and behavior on exposure to weather 3, 24, 25Rod extrusion example 35

Safety notes 3, 40Safety precautions during processing 40Safety switch housing 7Sauce tubs 8Screw 27, 28, 29, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38Screw flight depths 28Screw geometry 28, 34Screw speed 29, 35, 36Self-coloring 26, 27, 41Semi-finished parts 34, 38Shear modulus 14, 20Sheet extrusion example 35Shrinkage behavior 11, 30, 33Snowboard 37Steering angle sensor 39Storage 3, 20, 21, 24, 31, 32, 40, 41Stress relaxation behavior 17Stress-strain diagrams 16

46 GENERAL INFORMATIONSubject index

Take-off speed 15, 16, 35, 36Tear strength 25, 37Temperature settings 35, 36Tensile creep test 17Tensile load 16Tensile strength 15, 20, 21, 25Test box 31, 32, 33Test rods 16Tests 14, 18, 19, 20, 23, 48Thermal endurance graph 20Thermal properties 3, 20 f.Three-section screws 28, 34, 37Torsion pendulum tests 14, 20Toughness 13, 16, 38Toy 8, 9Transportation 23, 40, 41Travel adapter 7Tribological properties 3, 19Tubes 12, 34, 36

Unreinforced grades 10, 12, 20, 41

Vented screws 27

Warpage 6, 10, 11, 12, 30, 32 f.Warpage behavior 32, 33Waste disposal 41Water bath temperature 37Windscreen wiper arm 4Window profile reinforcement 8

Yield stress 37

Selected Product Literature for Ultradur®:

Ultradur® – Product Brochure Ultradur® – Product Range Ultramid®, Ultradur® and Ultraform® – Resistance to Chemicals

PM

EI 2

101

BE

® =

reg

iste

red

trad

emar

k of

BA

SF

SE

Further information on Ultradur® (PBT)

Product Brochure can be found on the internet:

www.ultradur.basf.com

Please visit our websites:

www.plastics.basf.com

www.plastics.basf.de

Request of brochures:

[email protected]

If you have any technical questions about the

products, please contact the Infopoints:

Note

The data contained in this publication are based on our current knowledge and

experience. In view of the many factors that may affect processing and applica-

tion of our product, these data do not relieve processors from carrying out own

investigations and tests; neither do these data imply any guarantee of certain

properties, nor the suitability of the product for a specific purpose. Any descrip-

tions, drawings, photographs, data, proportions, weights etc. given herein may

change without prior information and do not constitute the agreed contractual

quality of the product. It is the responsibility of the recipient of our products to

ensure that any proprietary rights and existing laws and legislation are observed.

( February 2021 )

[email protected]+49 621 60-78780

ultradur® – product brochure, english

Documents